An important part of the Chatham Health District’s responsibility is the monitoring and control of communicable disease. State law requires area physicians, hospitals, and laboratories to report selected diseases to local health departments. The Health Department is then required to investigate the extent of these illnesses, and apply control measures when necessary. This process involves interviewing the affected persons and, in some cases, friends, family members and associates. We work within the community along with state partners to detect, control, and prevent the spread of communicable (infectious) diseases. The District maintains a confidential database of all reportable disease.

The State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) revises the list of reportable diseases annually. By monitoring these diseases, epidemiologists can identify potential outbreaks and sources of disease. This knowledge helps public health professionals implement education and prevention measures.